Pawan Goenka, executive director and president of automobile maker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M), has been appointed as chairman of the board of governors at Indian Institute of Technology Madras for three years with effect from June 9, 2014.

An IIT- Kanpur alumnus, Goenka will be instrumental in formulating policy and setting the development agenda. He will also act as an interface between the institute and the Human Resource Development Ministry on important issues.

He replaces professor M M Sharma, former chairman and member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Prime Minister.

“I am looking forward to working with the director of the institute, Professor Ramamurthi, and the board to contribute towards the institute’s goals of building scientific and engineering excellence, incubating innovation and encouraging entrepreneurship,” said Goenka.